Leland Hartwell

Leland Hartwell is a Professor and the Virginia G. Piper Chair of Personalized Medicine at Arizona State University (ASU), holding appointments in the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, and School of Sustainability. He directs the Biodesign Pathfinder Center and oversees the HoneyBee program, focusing on wearable devices for clinical monitoring. Additionally, he serves as Distinguished Faculty at Chang Gung University in Taiwan, advising their Biosignatures Program.

He earned his Ph.D. from MIT in 1964. His research has revolutionized understanding of cell division mechanisms in yeast, leading to discoveries of cellular pathways regulating division and DNA damage responses. This work earned him the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. At the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (1997–2010), he spearheaded campus expansion and collaborations for cancer care and proteomics research.

His current initiatives include developing sustainability science curricula for K-8 teachers and advancing personalized diagnostics through wearable technology. Hartwell’s honors include the Lasker Award, Gairdner Award, and membership in the National Academy of Sciences.

He has led grants such as the Sustainable Health Award and the Virginia G. Piper Center for Personalized Diagnostics. His teaching spans courses in research techniques, honors thesis guidance, and interdisciplinary seminars.